Ice tray grid



C. R. CARNEY ICE TRAY GRID Dec. 23, 1941.

Filed June 24, 1940 1 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 7 96427165,]. 4%, a

ATTORNEYS.

Dc. 23, 1941. Y c. R. CARNEY I 2,267,441

ICE TRAY GRID Filed June 24, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Li I 7 L I-\L 7? I INVENTOR 672 691! 6'42 e y.

ATTORNEYS Q Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE roe my cum 01mm 1:. Carney, Dear-born, Mich. Application June :4, 1940, semi m. 342,026 15 Claims. (01. sa-1os s) The present invention relates to an ice tray grid construction for use in a refrigerator ice pan. The grid construction ofthe present invention is intended to be used with pans in domestic refrigerators to provide a desired quantity of frozen ice cubes which may be easily removed from the tray.

The objects of the present invention are:

First, to provide an ice tray grid, which upon actuation will readily release ice cubes frozen between the various compartments of the grid memher, the grid being of a simplified construction and readily adapted for large scale manufacture on a production basis.

Second, to provide an ice tray grid of simplified construction, which is economical-to manufacture, emcient in its operation, and-which is rugged and durable in its construction.

Third, to provide an ice tray grid constructed of a plurality of rigid members which are connected together to provide for limited movement of all members of the grid relative to each other for the purpose of breaking the frozen bond between the surfaces of the ice cubes and the adjacent surfaces of the grid members and the pan and in which the actuating levers and force-supplying members are an integral part of the grid structure.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reierence characters designate corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of an ice pan and grid embodying the present invention and showing the positions of the respective parts prior to freezing ice cubes therein or of freeing frozen ice cubes therefrom;

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections taken respectively on the lines 22 and 33 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the pan and grid structure shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary top plan views showing the relative positions of the various parts of the grid structure and operating handles during the movement which is required to free ice cubes therefrom;

Figs. '7 and 8 are fragmentary top plan views similar to Figs. 5 and 6 but showing a modified form of grid-operating mechanism embodying the present invention.

Before explaining in detail the present mven tion it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology .or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, a grid structure of the present invention is adapted for use in a refrigerator pan Ill and comprises longitudinal grid members II and I2 to which are hingedly connected a plurality of transverse grid members l3 which in the Present instance are two in number and are inclined at an angle from the vertical in an ice forming position. Secured to the ends of the longitudinal grid members 1! and I2 opposite the ends where the transverse grid members l3 are secured, are a plurality of transverse grid members [4, which also are hingedly connected with the longitudinal grid members I l and I2. In the present instance the grid members H are two in number and are normally inclined from the vertical in the direction opposite to the direction of inclination of the transverse grid membersv l3.

An operating handle I5 is operatively connected with the longitudinal grid members II and i2 and actuates the transverse grid members it. An operating handle I6 is operatively connected with the opposite end of the longitudinal grid members II and Hand is operatively connected for actuation of the transverse grid members M. The handle I5 is mounted on a shaft I! which is rotatable in journals provided in the longitudinal grid members H and I2 adjacent one end thereof. The handle I6 is mounted on a rotatable shaft I! which is mounted in journals provided on the opposite end of the longitudinal members II and [2. The handle I5 is provided with a bent portion l9 and the handle I6 is provided with a bent portion 2|! which form cam surfaces which move the grid-operating slide members as hereinafter described. The handle l5 extends through an opening 2| which is provided in the grid-actuating slide member 22 which operates to spread the ends of the longitudinal members l l and I2 and for thereafter moving the transverse grid members IS. The handle l6 extends through an opening 23 in a slide member 24 which acts to spread the opposite ends of the longitudinal members II and I2 and thereafter to actuate the transverse grid members 14.

The slide member 22 is provided with a curved v and 25 which is so constructed as to provide an enlarged end which will contact with the inwardly extending cam 26 on the longitudinal member H and the inwardly extending cam 21 on the longitudinal member l2. This construction is such that upon longitudinal movement of the slide member 22 in a substantially horizontal plane the ends 25 and the slide member 22 will contact the cams 26 and 21 and exert a force on the longitudinal members H and I2 causing them.

for contact with the inwardly extending cam 29 i on the longitudinal member II and the inwardly extending cam 30 on the longitudinal member i 2.

The longitudinal members H and i2 extend through slots provided in the transverse members. Each transverse memb'er I3 is provided with a generally vertically extending slot 3| for receiving the longitudinal member II and with a generally vertically extending slot 32 for receiving the longitudinal member I2. Each of the transverse members I3 is also provided with a generally horizontally extending slot 33 which is adapted to receive and guide the slidable tongue 34 of the slide member 22. Enlarged ears 35 are provided on the slide member 22 adjacent the slidable tongue 34 and are adapted to contact an adjacent face or each of the transverse grid members l3 to transmit a sumcient force to the face of such grid member to move it from its normally inclined or ice forming position towards a position approaching the vertical.

Each transverse member I4 is provided with a generally vertically extending slot 33 for-receiving the longitudinal member ii and with a generally vertically extending slot 31 for receiving the longitudinal member l2. Each transverse member is also provided with a generally horizontally extending slot 33 for receiving and guiding the slidable tongue 39 of the slide member 24. Enlarged ears 40 are provided on the slidable tongue 39 and are adapted to contact an adjacent face 01' the transverse member l4 and to transmit a force thereto which is sufiici'ent to raise the transverse grid member from its normally inclined ice forming position to a position approaching the vertical.

In the construction of the slide members 22 and 24, shown in Figs. 1 through 8, it is intended that upon actuation of the handles i5 and It the ad- .lacent transverse members will be moved simultaneously. In other words, there is no delayed movement between one of the transverse members l3 and the other oi. the transverse members I3 or between one of the transverse members l4 and the other transverse member [4. may, however, be a difference in timing of the movement of the transverse members l3 and of the transverse members I4.

There In the modified form shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the slide member 22 has been replaced with amembers I 3 is raised almost to its completely a vertical position while the other of the transversemembers I3 is raised to but an intermediate point approaching the vertical position.

Also, when the handle I 6 approaches its completely raised position, as shown in Fig. 8, the

first of the transverse grid members I 4 is raised to the end of its movement towards the vertical while the other of the transverse members l4 has been raised to an intermediate position toward the vertical. Thus, by substituting slide members 4i and 42 for the slide members 22 and 24, it is possible to provide for a progressive movement of the transverse members 13 relative to each other and of the transverse members l4 relative to each other. In certain types of construction this progressive movement is thought to be desirable since it requires the application of proportionately less force to the handles l5 and I6 than is required when simultaneous movement of the members is desired. It is apparent that to move but one transverse member at a time requires less force to break the adhesion between the frozen ice blocks and one of the transverse members than that which would be required to break a similar adhesion between the frozen ice blocks and more than one of the transverse members.

Assuming that the pan I0 containing the grid embodying the present invention has been filled with water, placed in the evaporator 01 a refrigerator, and has been frozen so that when the parts occupy the positions shown in Fig. l the various compartments formed between the structural members of the grid member and the pan are each filled with an ice block. When the parts are in this condition, the handles [5 and I6 lie in substantially horizontal planes and may be moved upwardly about the respective pivots to occupy the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 at the completion of the desired movement of the respective handles. The movement of the handles l5 and I6 is identical and eil'ects identical movement of the structural members of the grid, although the application 01' force applied to the handles l5 and I6 is applied through opposite ends of the longitudinal grid members II and I2. Accordingly, the operation of the grid embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the movement of the handle l5 to eiiect a spreading movement of the ends of the longitudinal members II and I2 adiacent the slide member 22 and to efiect the desired movement of the transverse members l3. It is understood that the same movements will be etiected on the opposite ends of the members II and I2 by actuation of the handlel6 which is connected to the slide member 24 to effect movement of the transverse members I 4.

When the handle I5 is moved from its normally horizontal position to a partially raised position as shown in Fig. 5, it will be seen that the ends of the cam members 26 and 21 on the longitudinal members H and I2 are contacted by the enlarged end 25 of the slide member 22.

' The bent portion of the handle l5 contacts the forward portion of the slot 2| and moves the whole slide member 22 toward the end 01' the pan Ill. As shown in Fig. 2, the normal position of the longitudinal members I I and i2 when the pan and grid are in the normal or frozen condition as shown in Fig. l, is that both are inclined angularly so that the upper longitudinal edges of the members II and I 2 are spaced a lesser distance apart in a transverse direction than are the lower longitudinal edges thereof. Thus, the spreading of the members by contact of the end 25 with the cams 26 and 21 moves the upper longitudinal edges of the members I l and I2 in the slots in th transverse separator members towards positions approaching the vertical.

Continued movement of the handle l5 causes a continued sliding movement of the member 22 relative to the transverse members l3. As this movement is continued, the transverse members l3 are subjected to the application of forces thereon which cause the members I! to be moved from theirnormally inclined or ice formin Dositions, as shown in Fig. 3, ,to positions approaching the vertical, as shown in Fig. 5, and at the final freeing of the ice cubes, to the positions shown in Fig. 6. This movement causes a transverse movement of the inclined upper edges of the longitudinal members II and I2 and at the same time effects a pivotal movement of the transverse members I3 from their normally inclined positions to positions approaching the vertical.

By the simultaneous operation of the handles [5 and I6, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the breaking force is transmitted to both ends of the longitudinal members H and i2 simultaneously and at the same time movement is effected of the transverse members I3 and the transverse members i4.

By mounting the handles l5 and 16 as here shown, the actuation of the handles sets up motion in the connected parts of the grid member and sufficient force is transmitted to the connected parts of the grid member so as to assure the desired movement thereof. As shown in these constructions, the handles l5 and I6 are so mounted that they may be moved upwardly relative to the top surface of the grid member and forwardly toward adjacent ends of the pan II]. By swinging the handles I5 and IS in these directions, it will be seen that opposed forces are applied to the handles l5 and I6 which assist in holding the pan and grid against movement on a supporting surface during the above described operation for freeing the ice cubes therefrom. It is to be understood, however, that it is not necessary to actuate the handles and it simultaneously, particularly if it is'not desired to release at one time all of the ice cubes from said grid members. The handles l5 and I6 may be independently operated and in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, each handle controls the movement of but two transverse members. .It will be seen that the operation of either handle alone will free six ice cubes during each operation. It is to be understood, however, that but four of these cubes will be made available since the two central cubes are immediately beneath the slide member 22 and are not available unless the entire grid member is actuated and is broken loose from the pan Ill.

The structural members forming the grid of the present invention may be formed of any suitable material, preferably of a thermallyconductive metal such, for example, as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. If the metal is of a corrodible nature, it should be suitably treated to prevent corrosion when in contact with water or foodstuffs which it is desired to freeze. The pan l0 likewise is preferably formed of a thermany-conductive metal or metallic alloy, which if of a corrodible nature is also suitably treated to prevent corrosion when brought in contact with water. If the material used in the construction of the pan and gridjs aluminum or an aluminum alloy, it is preferably treated to form a hard surface coating thereon which consists chiefly of aluminum oxide. This surface is thereafter impregnated with a suitable highmelting wax, such for example as carnauba wax. By the provision of the oxide coating on the aluminum-or the aluminum alloyand the impregnation of this coating with the high-melting wax, the force required for the breaking of the grid. structure from the ice cubes is greatly diminished since the adhesion of the surface of the ice cubes to adjacent surfaces of the pan and grid members is less than the adhesion of such cubes to surfaces which have not been so treated.

It is to be understood in connection withthe operation of the grid of the present invention that but a very slight movement is all that is required to break the adhesion between the adjacent surfaces of the ice cubes and the surfaces of the tray Hi, the longitudinal grids II and I! and the transverse grids l3 and Id. The construction here described provides a suftlcient amount of movement of the members of the grid to assure a breaking of the ice cubes therefrom and thereafter to assure a slight movement of the ice cubes relative to the surfaces of the pan l0. Upon completion of the breaking movement, the grid will be found to be completely freed from the ice cubes and the cubes will be found to be freed from the adjacent surfaces of the pan. As this condition exists when the handles l5 and I6 are in the fully raised position, it is but a simple matter to lift the entire grid from the pan and from the ice cubes which will remain in the pan. Another desirable feature of the present invention is that the grid members II and I2 and the transverse grid members It and II will automatically occupy the proper positions when the grid is placed in the pan and the handles l5 and I8 are returned to the substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1. Thus, it is not necessary to provide for any separate setting of the grid members in the pan l0 when water is added thereto and the grid is placed with the pan [0 in the evaporator or freezing compartment of an electric refrigerator.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a novel ice tray grid structure in which relative movements of the structural members forming the grid are initiated and controlled by actuation of the handles I5 and I6. Due to the multiplication of the forces applied to said handles through the slide members 22 and 2| and the integral parts of the grid structures which operate as mechanical force-multiplying means, it will be seen that the application of relatively small forces to the handles l5 and I8 is all that is required to actuate the grid members as above described to effect the breaking of the -ice cubes therefrom and the release of the grid from the pan l0.

It will also be seen that the actuation of the handles l5 and I8 effects a movement of the longitudinal members II and i2 and the transverse members I 3 and I4 according to a predetermined sequence of motions so that the members 13 may be actuated simultaneously as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, or they may be operated in sequen e as shown in Figs. '7 and 8. Likewise the transverse members I 4 may be operated simultaneously as shown in the construc-.

which readily lends itself to large scale production on a commercial basis.

Iclaim: 1. An ice'tray grid comprising a plurality oi spaced longitudinally extending members, a plurality of transversely extending members hingedly connected with said longitudinal members, and means comprising cooperating cam wedge and lever members carried by said longitudinal and transverse members 'and positioned to lie above the normal ice freezing level for moving the upper edges of said longitudinal members away from each other and for moving said transverse members relative to said longitudinal members and relative to each other.

2. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending members, a plurality of transversely extending members hingedly connected with said longitudinal members, means for moving the upper edges of said longitudinal members away from each other and for moving said transverse members relative to said longitudinal members and relative to each other, said means including cams carried by said longitudinal members, a handle pivotally mounted on said longitudinal members, and a slide member positioned to lie above the normal ice level and connected with said handle and adapted on pivotal movement of said handle to contact said cams and spread said longitudinal members and thereafter to effect movement of said transverse members.

3. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending members, a plurality of transversely extending members hingedly connected to said longitudinally extending members, and means for moving the upper edges of said longitudinally extending members away from each other and for moving said transverse members relative to said longitudinal members and relative to each other, said means including cams on each end of said longitudinal members, a handle pivotally mounted adjacent each end of said longitudinal members, and a slide member connected with each handle and with said transverse members adjacent thereto, each of said slide members having an end adapted to contact said cams and spread said longitudinal members upon pivotal movement oi the handle connected therewith.

4. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending members, a plurality of transversely extending members hingedly connected with said longitudinally extending members, means for moving the upper edges of said longitudinally extending members away from each other and for moving said transverse members relative to said longitudinal members and relative to each other, said means including cams on each end of said longitudinal members, a handle pivotally mounted adjacent each end of said longitudinal members, a slide member connected with each handle and with the transverse members adjacent thereto, each of said slide members having a" sliding connection with certain of said transverse members and having abutments thereon adapted to contact the face of said transverse members, and an end portion adapted to contact said cams on said longitudinally extending members and spread said longitudinally extending members upon pivotal movement of the handle connected therewith, said abutments being spaced relative to said end portion in such a manner as to actuate the transverse members after the longitudinally extending members have been spread apart.

5. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of spaced longitudinal members extending through a plurality oi. transversely extending members andmaintained therein in positions inclined from the vertical with the upper edges thereof a lesser distance apart than are the lower edges thereof, said plurality of transversely extending members being hingedly connected to said longitudinal members, and means positioned above the normal freezing level for moving the longitudinal members toward a vertical position with reference to the bottom of the tray, and for thereafter moving said transverse members relative to said longitudinal members.

6. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality oi spaced longitudinally extending members normally positioned in planes inclined from the vertical, and a plurality of transverse members lying in planes inclined from the vertical and hingedly connected to said inclined longitudinal members, the transverse members adjacent each end oi. said longitudinal members being inclined towards the center oi the tray.

7. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of spaced normally angularly inclined longitudinally extending members, a plurality of transversely extending members hingedly connected with said longitudinal members, said transverse members being inclined from the vertical, the transverse members adjacent each end of said grid structure being inclined in opposite directions, and force multiplying mechanical means carried by the grid for moving said transverse members relative to said longitudinal members and relative to each other and for moving the longitudinally extending members from their normal angularly inclined positions towards vertical positions.

8. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of spaced longitudinal members extending through a plurality of transverse members and lying in planes inclined from the vertical, the upper edges of ,said longitudinal members being spaced a lesser distance apart than are the lower edges thereof, said plurality of transversely extending members being hingedly connected with said longitudinal members, and means for moving the upper edges of said longitudinal members away from each other and for moving said transverse members relative to said longitudinal members and relative to each other, said means including cams on said longitudinal members adjacent the ends thereof, a handle pivotally connected on said longitudinal members and a slide member positioned to lie above the normal freezing level and connec ed to said handle and adapted on pivotal movement of said handle to contact said cams and spread said longitudinal members and thereafter to effect movement of said transverse members.

9. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending members, a plurality of transversely extending members hingedly connected with said longitudinally extending members, said transversely extending members being inclined from the vertical, those transverse members adjacent one end 01' said grid being inclined angularly in the opposite direction from those adjacent the opposite end of said grid, and means for moving the upper edges of said longitudinal members away from each other and for moving said transverse members relative to said longitudinal members and relative to each other, said means including cam means carried by said longitudinal members, handle means pivotally mounted on said longitudinal members, and slidable means connected with said handle means and adapted on pivotal movement of said handle means to contact said cam means and spread said longitudinal members and thereafter to effect movement of said transverse members from their normally inclined positions to positions approaching the vertical.

10. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending members, a plurality of transversely extending members hingedly connected with said longitudinal members, said longitudinal members being inclined from the vertical with their upper longitudinal edges spaced a lesser distance apart than their lower longitudinal edges, said transverse members being inclined from the vertical, those transverse members adjacent one end of said grid being inclined in the opposite direction from those adjacent the opposite end of said grid, and means for moving the upper edges of said longitudinal members away from each other to move said longitudinal member to a position approaching the vertical, and for moving said transverse members relative to said longitudinal members to positions approaching the vertical, said means including cams on said longitudinal members, handles pivotally connected on said longitudinal members, and slide members connected with said handles and adapted on pivotal movement of said handles to contact said cams and spread said longitudinal members and thereafter to effect movement of said transverse members from their normally inclined positions to positions approaching the vertical.

11. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of spaced longitudinal members mounted in inclined positions whereby the upper longitudinal edges are spaced a lesser distance apart than are the lower longitudinal edges thereof, a plurality of transversely extending members pivotally connected with said longitudinal members, and means for moving the upper edges of said longitudinal members away from each other to move said members towards positions approaching the vertical, and for moving said transverse members relative to said longitudinal members and relative to each other, said means including cams on each end of said longitudinal members, a. handle pivotally mounted adjacent each end of said longitudinal member, and a slide member connected with each handle and with the transverse members adjacent thereto and each having an end adapted to contact said cams and spread said longitudinal members upon pivotal movement of the handle connected therewith, each of said slide members having sliding connections with the transverse members adjacent thereto and having abutments thereon adapted to contact the face of each of said transverse members and move said transverse members relative to said longitudinal members.

12. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending members, a plurality of transversely extending members pivotally connected with said longitudinal members and normally maintained in positions-inclined from the vertical, the transverse members adjacent one end of said longitudinal members being inclined in the opposite direction i'rom the transverse members pivotally connected adjacent the opposite end of said longitudinal members, and means for moving the upper edges of said longitudinal members away from each other and for moving said transverse members relative to said longitudinal members and relative to each other, said means including cams on each end of said longitudinal members, a handle pivotally mounted adjacent each end of said longitudinal members, and a slide member connected with each handle and with the transverse members adjacent thereto, each of said slide members having an end adapted to contact said cams and spread said longitudinal members upon pivotal movement of the handle connected therewith, each of said slide members also having sliding connections with said transverse members and having abutments thereon adapted to contact an adjacent face of each of said transverse members to move said transverse members from said normally inclined positions to positions approaching the vertical.

13. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending members maintained in inclined planes approaching the vertical, the upper longitudinal edges thereof being arranged a lesser distance apart than are the lower longitudinal edges thereof, a plurality of transversely extending members pivotally connected with said longitudinal members, the transverse members being normally maintained in angularly inclined positions,'the members adjacent one end of said longitudinal members being inclined in a direction opposite from the transverse members adjacent the opposite end of said longitudinal members, and means for moving the upper edges of said longitudinal members away from each other to move said longitudinal members towards a position more closely approaching the vertical and for moving said transverse members relative to said longitudinal members towards positions more closely approaching the vertical, said means including cams on each end of said longitudinal members, a handle pivotally mounted adjacent each end of said longitudinal members, and a slide member connected with each handle and with the transverse members adjacent thereto, and each having an end adapted to contact said cams and spread said longitudinal members upon pivotal movement of the handle connected therewith, each 01' said slide members also having sliding connections with said transverse members and having abutments thereon adapted to contact an adjacent face of each of said transverse members and move said transverse members from their normally inclined positions to positions approaching the vertical.

14. An ice tray structure as defined in claim 13 and further characterized in that said abutments are spaced relative to said slide member and relative to said transverse members and all transverse members connected therewith are moved simultaneously from their inclined positions to positions approaching the vertical.

15. A grid as claimed in claim 13 and further characterized in that the abutments on. said sliding member are spaced relative to said transverse members so that said transverse members are progressively contacted by movement of said abutments whereby a progressive movement of said transverse members from their normally inclined positions to positions approaching the vertical is eifected.

' CLIFFORD R. CARNEY. 

